The Monastery Today
After the
enthronement of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III in 1971, he
dispatched His Grace Bishop Agathon as a special envoy to the
monastery in 1972 to administer the monastery. It became a
transitional point in the life of the monastery. His innovative
administration added modernity, organization, and new breed of
young novices. Thus, the reputation of the monastery became
known and many young enthusiastic men were attracted to the life
of the monastery and monasticism.One of these novices was a very
enthusiastic young man who also had a great zeal for his Coptic
church. He was ordained a monk in 1974 by H.G. Bishop Agathon
and assigned the name Pishoy Almoharaqy. Because of his great
talents and wit he was elevated to the rank of priest and became
the vicar of the monastery in 1975. After proving himself in
that post he was elevated to the post of country bishop (a rank
of assistant bishop.) Because he captured the admiration of the
monks, they recommended that he be elevated to the full rank of
bishop. And thus he was consecrated a bishop and became the
abbot of the monastery in 1985. He was assigned the name: H.G.
Bishop Severs. Since his elevation to the rank of bishop the
monastery experienced a great surge forward. Many
accomplishments were undertaken. We could only petition the good
Lord and savior to keep him for a long and peaceful tenure. And
we also request of our holy St. Mary who is the patron saint of
the monastery along with the angels, and holy saints to bestow
their blessings and love upon this good shepherd, H.G. Bishop
Severs. In addition, may we petition our good Lord to forgive
our sins .
|
| |
FLIGHT TO EGYPT
Jesus Christ's
flight to Egypt has always been one of the most important events
throughout history, which the Holy Ghost's inspiration mentioned
in chapter two of the Gospel according to Matthew. The incarnate
God so as to intend this event be a witness to the greatness of
His Divine arrangement. 
More
SECOND JERUSALEM
Abyssinia
(Ethiopia) is an ancient nation. It was called Kush and it
had distinguished civilization amongst the ancient world.
The ancient Abyssinian (Ethiopian) heritage tells that when
the Queen of Sheba (who reigned over Yemen and Abyssinia)
heard of Solomon's wisdom, she went to see him. She was
astounded by his great wisdom, and consequently converted to
Judaism which she later spread in her country after marrying
Solomon.
More
|
MANUSCRIPTS
 Manuscripts
represent all what is hand-written whether on papyrus or on
parchments made of deerskin, as was the case in ancient
times, and all what was written on paper later with the
exception of what was engraved on stone or on any other
solid material. Papyrus was still used till roughly 9th. and
10th. centuries. Parchments replaced papyrus, as they were
more durable for weather effects.
The Copts knew well how to make this kind of parchments.
Very thin layers of deerskin were removed and soaked in
salty solution then dried to be suitable for writing. This
type of parchment was still used till 13th. Century when
writing materials developed into paper made of linen. Then
linen was replaced by wood till it reached what we know now.
More
|
|
|
|
VIRGIN MARY MONASTERY
AL MUHARRAQ
For a long
time the place has been well known as "Virgin Mary
monastery". It has also been reputed as "Muharraq
Monastery", and "Mount Koskam Monastery". The monastery got
its name "Al- Muharrq" from the derivatives of the Arabic
verb "ha-ra-ka" (Arabic past verb) - means "burn" in English
- where "Muhrraq"/"burnt" is the passive participle, while
"Muhrraq"/"burning" is the active participle. The monastery
neighbourhood was a place for gathering and burning herbs
and weeds. So the whole region was called "The Burning or
Burnt Area" In time the monastery was denominated with " Al-
Muharraq". The "El or Al" is the Arabic definite article
"The". While "Al Muharraq" is an Arabic word, "Koskam" is an
ancient Egyptian name dating back to pharos age. The word
consists of two syllabuses "Kos" and "Kam". "Kos" was a name
of a city - non-existent now - which was the capital of the
fourteenth district. Upper Egypt was divided into 22
districts. Nothing remains of the city or the district
except the "Berba" or the "Temple". The word "Berba" has two
meanings, religious and civil. The religious meaning is "the
highest place". The civil meaning is "burial" or "mummifying
and wrapping the body in linen for burial". The second
syllable of "koskam" that is "kam" was associated with the
area to the west of the fourteenth district. The religious
meaning of the word is "the limitlessness/endlessness or
forever". The civil meaning - according to the historian Abu
Al-muharraq - is "burial place in reeds for the paupers".
Because "kos" and "Kam" are near together and neighboring,
the area and the mountain are called "Koskam" that is whence
the monastery has got its name.
|
|